Apparatus for joining together two pieces of work fabric or similar materials

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for joining together two pieces of work fabric or similar materials which comprises a first support for setting a first piece of work fabric and a second support for setting a second piece of work fabric and causes the edges of the first and second pieces to be superposed one on the other by the movement of at least one of said supports so as to have said superposed edges later joined together by suitable joining means such as stitch forming means.

United States P tent 11 1 Sakakura et al.

1451 Dec. 18, 1973 APPARATUS FOR JOINING TOGETHER TWO PIECES OF WORK FABRIC OR SIMILAR MATERIALS Inventors: Shiro Sakakura, Nagoya; Naotake Ito, Chiryu, both of Japan Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Horita-dori, Mizuho-ku, Japan Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 Appl. No.: 195,789

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 5, 1970 Japan 45/97644 US. Cl ll2/121.l2, 223/2, 112/260 Int. Cl Db 21/00 FieldofSearch 112/121.11, 121.12, 1l2/l21.15,121.27,104, 203,155,211,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1972 Tinari 112/260 3,547,318 12/1970 Cromwell 223/2 1,855,590 4/1932 Stein 2/123 3,513,791 5/1970 Fulp 112/121.15 X

2,313,433 3/1943 Golden 112/104 2,702,014 2/1955 Brownstein 112/121.15 3,329,110 7/1967 Bergeron 1l2/121.l1 3,611,959 10/1971 Parlatore 112/104 3,613,610 10/1971 Hinerfeld 112/262 3,669,441 6/1972 Minasian 270/53 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Assistant ExaminerPeter Nerbun Att0rneyGeorge B. Oujevolk [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for joining together two pieces of work fabric or similar materials which comprises a first support for setting a first piece of work fabric and a second support for setting a second piece of work fabric and causes the edges of the first and second pieces to be superposed one on the other by the movement of at least one of said supports so as to have said super posed edges later joined together by suitable joining means such as stitch forming means.

Claims, Drawing Figures PATENTEDDEC18 I975 3.779.185

saw mar 21 g g D G Aw t8 E :37

wmmmms 3.779.185

sum as or 21 FIG. 5

PATENIEHHEB 18 I915 SHEET 08 0F 21 FIG? FIG.9

FIG.8

i-MENIHIBEI: 18 um 3.779.185

SHEET 07 9F 21 FIG. 10 FIG. 12

FUENTES HEB 1 8 I975 saw 100; 21

m wmm mm com PATENTEUDEBWISIS 3779.185

sum 11nr21 246G F l G. 18 47 249 I V I 246 PATENIEUDEC 18 4915 sum 120? 21 N5 3% tn \HONN w a MTENTEDDEC 18 975 sum 130F 21 vmw mmm vOm Qm mom mm PATENTEnnEem I975 3.779.185

SHEET 17 0F 21 FIG. 23

f In Pmmmnms ms 3.779.185

sum 10 or 21 FIG. 25 

1. An apparatus for joining together a first pouch-shaped piece of work fabric or similar materials having a pair of lips forming an opening such as a cuff and a second piece of work fabric or similar materials such as a sleeve comprising: a first working assembly for setting said first piece, said assembly being provided with means for expanding the lips of the opening of said first piece; a second working assembly divided into two components to set said second piece, one of said components having holding means for setting one end of said second piece thereon and the other component having holding means for setting the other end of said piece; means for urging said two divided components near to or apart from each other; means for moving at least one of said first and second working assemblies to insert the joining edge of said second piece into the opening of said first piece, said two divided components being adapted to make the joining edge of said second piece narrower than said first piece when the joining edge of said second piece is inserted into the opening of said first piece and expand said joining edge in the opening of said first piece after said insertion; and means for joining together the overlapped portions of said first and second pieces.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises tucking means disposed between said two divided components of the second working assembly so as to pleat that portion of said second piece which is Slackened when said two divided components are drawn near thereto.
 3. An apparatus for joining together first and second pieces of work fabric or similar materials at their edges comprising: a. a first working assembly for setting one of said two pieces thereon; b. a second working assembly for setting the other of said two pieces thereon; c. means for moving at least one of said first and second working assemblies so as to overlap the edges of said two pieces; d. means for joining together the overlapped portions of said two pieces; and, e. means for making the joining edge of said second piece narrower than said first piece when the joining edge of said second piece is overlapped over said first piece and expand said joining edge after said overlapping.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first working assembly comprises a drum bed with a cylindrical cuff holder and the second working assembly comprises an arcuate sleeve holder, said first piece being a cuff, said second piece being a sleeve, means for expanding said cuff so that said sleeve is overlapped into the cuff opening.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 which further comprises an emergency stop device for stopping the operation of all the aforesaid means, said first and second working assemblies being adapted to be stopped at the original position when said emergency stop device is actuated before the overlapping of said two pieces and immediately brought to rest with said two pieces of work fabric overlapped when said emergency stop device is energized after the commencement of said relative movement.
 6. An apparatus for joining together first and second pieces of work fabric or similar materials at their edges comprising: a. a first working assembly for setting thereon one of said two pieces; b. a second working assembly for setting thereon the other of said two pieces; c. means for moving at least one of said first and second working assemblies, to overlap the joining edges of said two pieces; d. means worked by an operator to start the operation of said moving means; e. means for joining together the overlapped portions of said two pieces; f. means for conducting the relative movement of said working assemblies and joining means along said overlapped portions; g. means responsive to the overlapping of said two pieces for effecting the automatic operation of said relative movement actuating means so as to join together said two pieces; and, h. means for making the joining edge of said second piece narrower than said first piece when the joining edge of said second piece is overlapped over said first piece and expand said joining edge after said overlapping.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first working assembly comprises a drain bed with a cylindrical cuff holder and the second working assembly comprises an arcuate sleeve holder, said first piece being a cuff, said second piece being a sleeve, means for expanding said cuff so that said sleeve is overlapped into the cuff opening.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises: a. second operator-worked means for commencing the operation of said relative movement-actuating means instead of said last mentioned means; and, b. switching means for selectively energizing said second operator-worked means and last mentioned means.
 9. An apparatus for joining together first and second pieces of work fabric or similar materials at their edges, the first piece being shaped like a cuff and the second piece being shaped like a sleeve, comprising: a. a table; b. a machine frame mounted on said table; c. a main shaft rotatably fitted to said frame; d. means for driving said main shaft; e. stitch forming means including a reciprocable needle connected with said main shaft; f. a drive shaft rotatable supported by said frame; g. power transmitting means provided between said drive shaft and main shaft; h. a first cylindrical working assembly connected to said drive shaft for the setting thereon of one of said two pieces; i. a movable support base so disposed as to face said first working assembly; j. a second working assembly rotatably fitted to said support base so as to rotate coaxially with said drive shaft, said second working assembly having a round supporting surface for receiving thereon the other of said two pieces whose surface has the same radius as the supporting surface of said first working assembly; k. means for urging said support base with said second working assembly so as to overlap the joining edges of the second of said two pieces into the first of said two pieces; l. means disposed between said first and second working assemblies for their connection so as to jointly rotate said two pieces when they are overlapped by the movement of said second working assembly, thereby causing said first and second working assemblies to be jointly rotated by the operation of said drive means and in consequence the overlapped portions of said two pieces to be sewn together by said stitch forming means; and, m. means for making the joining edge of said second piece narrower than said first piece when the joining edge of said second piece is inserted into the opening of said first piece and expand said joining edge in the opening of said first piece after said insertion.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said power transmitting means include cam means for actuating said drive shaft so as to rotate the first and second working assemblies in the direction of a predetermined stitching line along which stitching is to be performed.
 11. An apparatus for joining together a first pouch-shaped piece of work fabric or similar materials having upper and lower lips forming an opening such as a cuff and a second piece of work fabric or similar materials such as a sleeve end comprising: a. a first working assembly for setting said first piece and lower lip thereon, said assembly being provided with means for expanding the upper and lower lips of said first pouched shaped piece; b. a second working assembly for setting said second piece thereon; d. means for moving at least one of said first and second assemblies to insert the joining edge of said second piece in the expanded opening of said first pouched-shaped piece between said lips; d. means for joining together the overlapped portions of said first and second pieces; and, e. means for making the joining edge of said second piece narrower than said first piece when the joining edge of said second is inserted into the opening of said first piece and expand said joining edge in the opening of said first piece after said insertion.
 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said expanding means includes: means for holding said lower lip and the side which faces the first working assembly against it; and means for lifting the upper lip.
 13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lifting means includes a lifting plate so mounted on the first working assembly as to move vertically, the supporting surface of said first working assembly and that of said lifting plate being designed to be made flush.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said second working assembly includes means for elevating the joining edges of said second piece to the central level of the opening of said first piece.
 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second working assembly includes a mechanical guide plate for introducing the joining edges of said second piece into the opening of said first piece, said guide plate having a combed member to facilitate the withdrawal of said guide plate from the work piece.
 16. An apparatus for joining together a first pouched-shaped piece of work fabric or similar materials having a pair of lips forming an opening such as a cuff and a second piece of work fabric or similar materials such as a sleeve comprising: a. a first working assembly; b. a first holding device mounted on said first working assembly to set said first piece thereon; c. means mounted in said first working assembly to expand the lips of the opening of said first piece; d. a second working assembly; e. a second holding device mounted on said second working assembly to set said second piece; f. first means for moving at least one of said first and second working assemblies to insert the joining edges of said second piece into the opening of said first piece; g. a guide plate movably fitted to said second working assembly to introduce the joining edge of said piece into the opening of said first piece; h. second means for moving said guide plate toward said second working assembly, and inserting said guide plate into opening of said first piece by the action of said first moving means together with said second piece set on said guide plate, means facilitating the drawing out said guide plate from the opening of said first piece with the overlapped portions of said first and second pieces pressed against said first working assembly by said first holding means; i. means for joining together the overlapped portions of said first and second pieces; and, j. means for making the joining edge of said second piece narrower than said first piece when the joining edge of said second piece is inserted into the opening of said first piece and expand said joining edge in the opening of said first piece after said insertion.
 17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guide plate has a combed portion on the side which faces said first piece to facilitate withdrawal of the guide plate from the work pieces.
 18. An apparatus for joining together a first pouched-shaped piece of work fabric or similar materials having a pair of lips forming an opening such as a cuff and a second piece of work fabric or similar materials such as a sleeve comprising: a. a machine frame; b. a main shaft rotatably mounted on said frame; c. stitch forming means including a reciprocable needle drivingly connected with said main shaft; d. a drive shaft mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis in parallel with the axis of said main shaft, e. a first cylindrical support secured to said drive shaft for supporting said first piece thereon; f. expanding means movably mounted on said first cylindrical support for expanding the lips of the opening of said first piece set on said first support; g. power transmitting means provided between said drive shaft and said main shaft for rotating said first cylindrical support according to the rotation of said main shaft; h. a base movably supported on said frame in the direction of the axis of said drive shaft; i. two divided second supports rotatably supported on said base coaxially with said drive shaft and having a round supporting-surface for said second piece whose surface has the same radius as the supporting surface of said first cylindrical support, one of said second supports having holding means for setting one end of said second piece thereon and the other of said second supports having holding means for setting the other end of said second piece; j. means for urging said two divided second supports near to or apart from each other, said urging means being adapted to make the joining edge of said first pouched-shape piece narrower when the joining edge of said second piece is inserted into the opening of said first piece and then expand said joining edge; k. actuating means provided between said base and said frame for moving said second supports through said base toward said first support to insert the joining edge of said second piece into the opening of said first pouched-shaped piece; l. connecting means provided between said first and second supports for connecting the same with each other for joint rotation when said second supports have been moved by saId actuating means; m. holding means movably mounted on said first support for pressing the overlapped portion of said first and second pieces against said first support, so that the overlapped portion of said first and second pieces is sewn by said stitch forming means according to the rotation of said first and second supports.
 19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said urging means includes: a. spring means provided between said two divided second supports for normally biasing the same apart from each other; b. a pair of levers rotatably mounted on said base for moving said two divided second supports to each other against the action of said spring means; and, c. actuating means provided bwtween said pair of levers and said base for moving said pair of levers.
 20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said two divided second supports are formed into a sectorial shape having an arcuate flange forming said round supporting surface.
 21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a. a guide plate movably mounted on said round supporting surface of said second support in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft for introducing the joining edge of said second piece fittingly into the opening of said first piece; and, b. another actuating means provided between said guide plate and said two divided second supports for moving said guide plate, said actuating means being adapted to normally move said guide plate in an advance position wherein said guide plate is projected from said second support toward said first support and further to move said guide plate to be drawn out from the opening of said first pouched-shaped piece while the overlapped portion of said first and second pieces is held on said first support by said holding means after the insertion of said joining edge.
 22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said guide plate has a comb portion on that side which faces said first piece, thereby smoothly drawing out said guide plate.
 23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said expanding means includes: a. a pair of catchers movably mounted on said first support for holding on said first support the lower lips of both sides of said first pouched-shaped piece; and, b. means movably mounted on said first support for lifting the closed side of said first pouched-shaped piece to open the opening of said first piece.
 24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said lifting means includes: a. a lifting plate so mounted on said first support as to move vertically; b. holding means movably mounted on said lifting plate of holding the closed side of said first pouched-shaped piece on said lifting plate; and, c. actuating means provided between said lifting plate and said first support for lifting said lifting plate with said holding means.
 25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said second supports have operating means for releasing the catching action of said pair of catchers when said second supports are moved and said first and second supports are connected. 